Hydrostatic Testing

So contact the company providing test inspection records in pursuit of burst indemnity insurance cover for advice directly, instead of bothering all the sleeping beauties on here.

• Far quicker
• Relevant, pertinent
• Opinion-free.

It may depend on local/regional piping and pressure vessel codes. But whether the code requires it or not, it would be smart to have a PRV on the pump discharge.

A manual pump? Interesting!

For a big vessel or a long big pipeline?

Pressure test for 2 weeks are you?

2 hour test and rest pumping, pumping, pumping.

Make sure the PRV is set higher than your test pressure. Maybe a NRV is not a bad idea either for a manual pump. Just saying....

If you knew anything at all about this topic, you would not supply such ridiculous questions and comments.

It was not me starting with ridiculous questions now, was it?

Were you meaning NRV as in net realizable value, or numpty relief valve?

^{To the tune of : "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"}

It's beginning to smell a lot - like - another ...

. . . another . . . of THIS ...

NRV? What are you talking about?

We don't need no stinking NRV...

I think this guy might have some large muscled up brazos (look it up) if he goes around manually getting this vessel pumped up.

I would not get him riled up if I were you.

40 years ago, I worked with the Fire Protection Sprinkler Fitters. Once the system is filled and vented, an hour of hand pumping was enough to get 300 psi. Large industrial piping systems can be tested with a modified pressure washer. A PRV from output to input sets maximum pumping pressure. Gages and PRVs should be freshly calibrated against a dead weight tester.

bob Woolery, DC, retired Steamfiter.

Around 1974 I became a member of UA Local 598 as a BTJ Steamfitter. That was a misclassification, but it was part of a back-door entry process. My field was refrigeration rather than steam.

Yeah, but we talk about big pipe and we do not know how big, nor do we have an idea about the ability to vent all air out. A sprinkler system will have a high point. A pipe line maybe, maybe not. I used "pressure washers" for this purpose, but hand pump is not a question for an undefined pressure vessel.

Chances are there is air trapped in the vessel and pumping time will increase and you do not want to stand near the thing in case it blows.

<...Is it mandatory to have a PRV at the discharge of the pump used for pressurizing?...>

It depends upon the design of the pump in question. A pressure relief valve would be a wise precaution if the pump is capable of exceeding the equipment test pressure without it stalling at that point.

Do let the forum know how those calls to the Insurance Assessor went.

Hydro-static testing uses a fluid (usually water, but not always) that fills the test system completely, and most importantly - is free of any air or other gas in any part of the connected system. Usually a small positive displacement hydraulic pump is connected to the filled test system via a small tube with a valve and a pressure gauge. The system is connected and pumped up slowly. The initial pressurization will reveal any hidden gasses as the pressure will go up slowly as you pump thus revealing this gas being compressed and this has must be removed before the higher test pressure is exerted. Assuming you now have a gas free sealed system, as you move the pump handle the in-compressible nature of the use of fluid reveals itself by a rapid increase in the pressure with very small volumes of fluid added. You pump up to the test press. If it has fallen there may be re, close the valve and wait for the test period - day/hour etc. After the test period the pressure is noted and compared to the start pressure. The pressure is removed and the decline is pressure is noted. The drop should be rapid, and any slowness indicates compressed gas (air) that acts like a spring. If the vessel reaches the required test pressure and test time with zero leaks it has been tested and has passed. Any failure or leakage must be noted, leaks fixed and the test repeated.

Always be ready for failure.

Always use an incompressible fluid:

Yes, incompressible produces less damage upon failure mode being reached. But never use an incomprehensible fluid under any circumstances.

WTG!